Stacy L. Chin explains why calling your startup innovative won't help you win SBIR funding. Reviewers, mostly PhDs and entrepreneurs, ignore hype and buzzwords. They want concrete proof your idea works, data showing market demand, and a named customer ready to buy.
SBIR reviewers don't give a shit if you call your technology disruptive or innovative. I've seen so many teams lose SBIR funding because they focus on the hype and not on the proof. Because SBIR reviewers don't care about what you call your technology. They only care about what you can prove. Because remember, your reviewers are smart. They have PhDs, they have startup backgrounds, they deal with innovations all the time. So they're not going to buy your buzzwords. They want to see the data. So in your applications, you need justification that your idea actually works and a customer that would buy your technology. Because SBIR grants aren't Shark Tank. Both the research and the commercialization matters a lot. Because strong proposals don't just sell, they also demonstrate. And that's because in this SBIR world,
Applying for NIH SBIR in Jan 5, 2027? You Should Be Starting NOW. Here's why...
How to Get Invited to Apply for $305K in NSF SBIR Funding || Step-by-Step Guide
